Match-box and other receptacle.



was PATENTED MAYB 1908.

6688 B. 'VOM EIGEN.

, MATCH Box AND OTHER REGBPTAGLB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24'. 19-01.

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B. VOM EIGEN.

MATCH BOX AND :OTHER -REG E;PTAOLE..

APPLICATION rum) we. 24.1907.

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1 B. VOM IGEN. PATENTED MAY 5 1908 MATCH BOX AND OTHER REGBPTACLEAPPLICATION FILED-AUG. 24.1907.

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PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

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ATTORNEYS THE noR'Rls P'srsns cc-, wAsmNaraN. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENNO VOM EIGEN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AUG. GOERTZ & 00., ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MATCH-BOX AND OTHER REGEPTACLE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENNO VOM EIGEN, citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes and otherReceptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements inmatch-boxes and other similar receptacles which are adapted to becarried in the pocket and, this invention relates, more particularly, toa novel construction of match and other box or receptacle, comprising anouter main casing or shell, which is open at both ends, and in which isslidably arranged an inner matchpresenting means, one portion of whichis provided with a closing element for the one open end of the maincasing or shell, said match presenting means being normally locked orimmovably retained in said casing or shell, but being adapted to bereleased by means of an end-shell or piece which is movably arranged inthe other open end of the main casing or shell.

The invention, therefore, has for its principal objects to provide aneat and simply constructed box, of the general character hereinafterset forth, the parts of which can be easily assembled and held in theirnormally locked engagement, but can be readily manipulated, so that,when th'eboxis opened, the ends of the matches are presented in such amanner, so as to greatly facilitate the removal of said matches from thebox; and, furthermore, the present invention provides a box in which thematches contained therein cannot accidentally become ignited whenopening or closing the said box.

My present invention, therefore, consists in the novel match or otherbox hereinafter fully set forth and, furthermore, this inventionconsists in the various novel arrangements and combinations of devicesand specification, and then finally embodied in Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed August 24, 1907.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Serial No. 390,002.

the clauses of the claims, which are appended to and which form anessential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the H box or like receptacle,when opening the,

same; and Fig. 4 is a detail side view or elevation, with the end-piece,top or coverportion of the match-box or like receptacle turned to oneside, to permit the removal ofthe matches or other articles containedtherein. Fig. 5 is a top view of the said match-box or like receptacle,with the cover or top-portion in the position represented in said Fig.4. Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are side-edge views or elevations of the saidmatch-box or like receptacles as shown, respectively, in Figs. 1, 2, 3and 4 of the drawings. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section, takenon line 1010, in said Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a similar section, taken online 1111 in said Fig. 7; and, Fig. 12 is a similar view taken on line1212 in said Fig. 8. Fig. 13 is a transverse section, taken on line 1313in said 10; Fig. 14 is a detail longitudinal vertical section of theslidin match-container or presenting means, lllustrating a slightmodification of the construction of the same. Figv 15 is a horizontalcross-section of the said match-box or like receptacle, taken on line1515 in said Fig. 10; Fig. 16 is a similar section, taken on line 1616in the same figure; and, Fig. 17 is a similar section, taken on line1717 in said Fig. 10, all of said sections being made on enlargedscales.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character 1 indicates the complete match-box or similarreceptacle embodying the principles of the present invention. Thisreceptacle consists, generally, of a main casing, shell or bodyportion,which is usually made of sheetmetal and comprises suitable side-faces 3and end edges 4, all arranged to provide a hollow body or shell, whichis open at its opposite ends, as at 2, and preferably, is of arectangular cross-section, substantially of the configuration shown inthe several figures of the drawings. -The open end-portions of the saidmain casing or shell 2 are usually surrounded by a marginal bead orornamental rim 5, and the reference-character 6 indicates a suitablecovering or envelop of leather or any other suitable material, whichincases the said main casing or shell between the said beads. Theside-face 3 of the main casing or shell are provided with suitablyformed and inwardly extending projections 7 and 8, as clearly shown inFigs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16 of the drawings, and the purposes ofwhich will be more fully set forth in the following description. In theupper portion. of each end-edge 4, as will be seen from Figs. 10, 1.1and 12, is a suitably formed depression made by an inwardly pressedportion 9, saidportion 9 being provided with a pair of lug ortongue-receiving openings or slots 10, shown in Fig. 15. In a likemanner, in the lower portion of each end-edge or piece 4, as will beseen from an.

mspection of the same figures, is another suitably formed depressionmade by an inwardly pressed portion 11, said portion 11 being providedwith a pair of lug or tonguereoeiving openings or slots 12, shown inFig. 17 of the drawings. Suitable bar-like guiding elements or lates 13are arranged upon the innerface oi each end-edge or piece 4, each bar orplate 13 being made with the inwardly extending raised portions 14 and15, forming suitable depressions in the opposite faces of said bars orplates, in which the previously mentioned inwardly pressed portions 9and 11 are respectively fitted, as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.Contiguous to the raised portions 14 are rearwardly extending lugs orcars 16, and contiguous to the raised portions 15 are rearwardlyextending lugs or ears 17, said lugs or ears 16 being passed through theopenings or slots 10 and bent over into the depressions formed by theparts 9, and said lugs -or ears 17 'being passed through the openings orslots 12 and bent over into the depressions formed by parts 11,substantially in the manner shown in the several figures of thedrawings. Thus it will be seen that each bar or plate 13, which forms asuitable guiding-element for the purposes to be presently described, ispermanently secured upon the inner surface of an end-edge or piece 4 ofthe main shell or casing, one of said bars or plates serving at the sametime as a means for connecting the abutting edge-portions 14 of themetal sheet from which the main casing or shell is made.

Each bar or plate 13 is also provided at a .suitable point near itslower edge-portion with lugs or ears 18 extending outwardly from theopposite edges of each bar or plate, and then being bent at rightangles, so that the lugs or ears upon each bar or plate will extendtoward each other, so as to provide a pair of retaining guides behindwhich are slidably arranged suitable plate-like arms 19 which extendupwardly from the opposite marginal edge-portions of an elongatedendmember or element 20. The member or element, as will be seen, is madewith the sides 21, and fitted upon and registering with said elongatedend-member or element 20 is a correspondingly formed end-shell 22, theparts being suitably united and secured together, the said assembledparts being slidably arranged in the lower open end of the main shell orcasing, and while acting as a closing device for said shell or casing,serving also as a push-device or means for releasing the matchpresenting device, as will presently appear. The arrangement of the-saidlugs or ears 18 is such that while the arms 19 slide freely in theguides thus provided, still said positions, until returned to the normalinitial position, as will hereinafter more fully appear. To prevent theentire withdrawal or displacement of said push-device or means from thelower 0 en end of the main casing or shell, each plateike arm 19 isprovided at its upper free end with a bent-over portion 23, thusproviding suitable retaining hooks which engage with said lugs ortongues 18, when the parts are in their normal initial positionsindicated more particularly in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Slidablyarranged within said main shell or casing is the match-presenting meansor container reviously men tioned. This device, as wil be seen from saidFigs. 10 to 13 inclusive, comprises a lower box-like member or retainingelement, which consists, essentially, of a suitable base or bottom 24,formed along its longitudinal marginal edges with upwardly extendingside-flanges 25, which are preferably cut out, as at 26, said base orbottom being provided at its respective ends with upwardly extendingtongues 27 extending into said out out portions 26, and said tongues 27being provided with suitable clamping lugs 28, by means of which issecured to each tongue 27 the lower end-portion of an upwardly extendingplate-like member or arm 29. In lieu of said tongues 27 and clampinglugs 28, arms 30 may be integrally connected with and extend upwardlyfrom said base or bottom 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 14 of thedrawings.

Pivotally connected to the upper end-pop provided with the convexedportions 33 at their upper ends and have connected there with anelongated end-member 34. This end-member or element, as is shown in thedrawings, is made with the sides 37, and fitted upon and registeringwith said elongated end-member 34 is a correspondingly formed end-shell36, the parts being suitably united and secured together and theseassembled parts being slidably arranged in the upper open end of themain shell or casing, so as to serve as a removably disposed closure orcover for theupper open end of the recepta cle, as will be clearlyunderstood.

Having thus in a general manner set forth the construction of my novelform of matchbox and other receptacle, 1 will now briefly set forth themanner of operating the various devices and parts for the purpose ofpresenting a match, or other article.

Supposing the parts after having been assembled to be in their normalinitial positions indicated in Figs. 1, 6 and 10 of the drawings, and itis desired to get at the contents of the box or receptacle. All that isnecessary is to exert a slight pressure upon the outer endportion of theend-closing shell 22, whereby the upper marginal edge-portions of thesides 21 of the end-member or element 20, upon which the base or bottom24 of the lower box-like element or retaining element rests, and inwhich the ends of the matches are supported, will force the uppermarginal edges 35 of the spring-like plates or sideflanges 25 over theprojections or protuberances 7, until the upper surrounding edgeportionsof the shell 22 come in contact with the lower ends of the previouslymentioned bars or plates 13, and whereby the movements of the parts arearrested, and the various parts will have assumed the relative positionsindicated in Figs. 2, 7 and 11 of the drawings. This upward movement hascaused the end-shell 36, and the arms connected therewith, to beprojected from the upper open end of the main shell or casing, indicatedin Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings, and by taking hold of these parts andusing them as a pull-piece, they can be moved still further, until themarginal edges 35 of the spring-plates or side-flanges 25 are broughtagainst the projections or protuberances 8, which act as stops andtherefore arrest the further movements of the parts, which have vthusbeen brought into the positions indicated in Figs. 3, 8 and 12 of thedrawings. The pivoted or hinged portions can then be turned to one side,as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 9, so as to more easily enable a person towithdraw a match, or get at such other contents that may be contained inthe receptacle or box, as will be clearly evident.

To close the receptacle or box, all that is necessary is to return thelaterally swung parts into their vertical position, and by pushing thevarious parts back into the main shell or casing, they are quickly andeasily brought back into their locked or retained relations shown insaid Figs. 10 and 13 of the drawings, with the edge-portions 35 of thespring-plates or side-flanges 25 again sprung beneath the projections orprotuberances 7 in holding engagement therewith, and whereby the variousparts are once more im movably held in their normal initial positions,as will be clearly evident.

, It will be seen from the foregoing description of my presentinvention, that I have produced a simple and effective arrangement andconstruction of devices and parts for the purposes of providing amatch-box or other suitable receptacle, intended to be carried in thepocket, and which can be readily manipulated to get at the contents.

1 am aware, that changes may be made in the arrangements andcombinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of mypresent invention, as defined in the appended claims. Hence, I donotlimit myinvention to the exact arrangements and combinations of thedevices and the parts thereof, 'as described in the foregoingspecification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do 1confine myself to the exact details of the construction of any of thesaid parts.

I claim:

1. A match-box or other receptacle com prising a main shell providedwith open ends, a closing device movably arranged within the one 0 enend-portion of said main shell, a container slidably arranged withinsaid shell, said container normally resting directly upon said closingdevice, and a second closing device movably arranged in the other openend of said shell and connected with said container, bar like guidingelements secured upon the inner surfaces of the end-edges of said mainshell, guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending arms connectedwith said first-mentioned closing device, said arms being retained intheir sliding relations to said bar-like elements by means of saidguide-lugs, and means connected with said arms for limiting themovements of said closing device, substantially as and for the purposesset forth.

2. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell provided withopen ends, a closing device movably arranged withinthe one openend-portion of said main shell, a container slidably arranged withinsaid shell, said container normally resting directly upon said closingdevice, and a second closing device movably arranged in the other openend of said shell and connected with said container, bar like guidingelements secured upon the inner surfaces of the end-edges of said mainshell, guide-lugs upon each ele- &

ment, uawardly extending arms connected with said first-mentionedclosing device, said arms being retained in their slidingrelations tosaid bar-like elements by means of said guide-lugs, and means connectedwith said arms for. limiting the movements of said closing device, andmeans within said shell for limiting the movements of said container,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell provided withopen ends, a closing device movably arranged within the one openend-portion of said main shell, a container slidab'ly arranged withinsaid shell, said container normally resting directly upon said closingdevice, and a second closing device movably arranged in the other openend of said shell and connected with said container, bar like guiding 4elements secured upon the inner surfaces of the end-edges of said mainshell, guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending arms connectedwith said first-mentioned closing device, said arms being retained intheir sliding relations to said. bar-like elements by means of saidguide-lugs, and means connected with said arms for limiting themovements of said closing device, and. inwardly projecting protuberancesupon the side-faces of said shell for limiting the ,movements of saidclosing device, and inwardly projecting rotuberances upon the side-facesof said she l for limiting the movements of said container,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell provided withopen ends, a closing device movably arranged within the one openendortion. of said main shell, a container slidab y arranged within saidshell, said container normally resting directly upon said closingdevice, and a second closing device movably arranged in the other openend of said shell and connected with said container, bar-likeguiding-elements secured upon the inner surfaces of the end-edges ofsaid main shell, guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending armsconnected with said first-mentioned closing device, said arms beingretained in their sliding relations to said bar-like elements by meansof said guidelugs, and a hook-shaped end-portion upon the free end ofeach arm adapted to be brought in limiting retaining engagement with theguide-lugs of each element, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

5. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell provided withopen ends, a closing device movably arranged within the one openend-portion of said main shell, a container slidably arranged withinsaid. shell, said container normally resting directly upon said closingdevice, and a second closing device movably arranged in the other openend of said shell and connected with said. container, bar like guidingelements secured upon the inner surfaces of the end-edges of said mainshell, guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending arms connectedwith said first-mentioned closing device, said arms being retained intheir sliding relations to said bar-like elements by means of saidguide-lugs, and a hook-shaped, end-portion upon the free end of each armadapted to be brought in limiting retaining engagement with. theguide-lugs of each element, and means within said shell for limiting themovements of said container, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

6. A match-box or other receptacle com-- prising a main shell providedwith open ends, a closing device movably arranged within the one openendportion of said main shell, a container slidably arranged within saidshell, saidcontainer normally resting directly upon said closing device,and a second closing device movably arranged in the other open end ofsaid shell and connected with said container, bar-like guiding-elementssecured upon the inner surfaces of the endedges of said main shell,guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending arms connected withsaid. first-mentioned closing device, said arms being retained in theirsliding relations to said bar like elements by means of said guide-lugs,and a hook-shaped end portion upon. the free end of each arm adapted tobe brought in limiting retaining engagement with the guide-lugs of eachelement, and inwardly projecting protuberances upon the side-faces ofsaid shell for limiting the movements of said container, substantiallyas and for the purposes set forth.

7. A match-box or other receptacle com prising a main shell providedwith open ends, a closing device movably arranged in each openendportion, an intermediately disposed container movably arranged insaid shell, one of said closing devices being ada ted to be movedagainst said container or moving the latter, bar-like guiding elementssecured upon the inner surfaces of the endedges of said main shell,guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending arms con nected withsaid first-mentioned closing device, said arms being retained in theirsliding relations to said bar-like elements by means of said guide-lugs,arms extending upwardly from said container, and arms extendingdownwardly from said second-mentioned closing device, and a means ofpivotal connection between each set of upwardly and downwardly extendingarms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell provided withopen ends, a closing device movably arranged in each open endportion, anintermediately disposed container movably arranged in said shell, one ofsaid closing devices being ada ted to be moved against said container ormoving the latter, bar-like guiding elements secured upon the innersurfaces of the endedges of said main shell, guide-lugs upon eachelement, upwardly extending arms connected with said first-mentionedclosing device, said arms deing retained in their sliding relations tosaid bar-like elements by means of said guide-lugs, arms extendingupwardly from said container, and arms extending downwardly from saidsecond-mentioned closing device, and a means of pivotal con nectionbetween each set of upwardly and downwardly extending arms, and meanswithin said shell for limiting the movements of said container,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell provided withopen ends, a closing device movably arranged in each open end-portion,an intermediately disposed container movably arranged in said shell, oneof said closing devices being adapted to be moved against said containerfor moving the latter, bar-like guiding elements secured upon the innersurfaces of the end-edges of said main shell, guide-lugs upon eachelement, upwardly extending arms connected with said first-mentionedclosing device, said arms being retained in their sliding relations tosaid bar-like elements by means of said guide-lugs, arms extendingupwardly from said container, and arms extending downwardly from saidsecond-mentioned closing device, and a means of pivotal connectionbetween each set of upwardly and downwardly extending arms, and inwardlyprojecting rotuberances upon the side-faces of said shell for limitingthe movements of said container, substantially as and for the pur posesset forth.

10. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell providedwith open ends, a closing device movably arranged in each openend-portion, an intermediately disposed container movably arranged insaid shell," one of said closing devices being ada ted to be movedagainst said container for moving the latter, bar-like guiding elementssecured upon the inner surfaces of the endedges of said main shell,guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending arms connected withsaid first-mentioned closing device, said arms being retained in theirsliding relations to said bar-like elements by means of said guidelugs,a hook-shaped endportion upon the free end of each arm adapted to bebrought in limiting retaining engagement with the guide-lugs of eachelement, arms extending upwardly from said container, and arms extendingdownwardly from said second-mentioned closing device, and a means ofpivotal connection between each set of upwardly and downwardly exvaclosing device movably arranged in each tending arms, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

1]. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell providedwith open ends,

open endportion, an intermediately disposed container movably arrangedin said shell one of said closing devices being adapted to be movedagainst said container for moving the latter, bar-like guiding elementssecured upon the inner surfaces of the endedges of said main shell,guide-lugs upon each element, upwardly extending arms connected withsaid first-mentioned closing device, said arms being retained in theirsliding relations to said bar-like elements by means of said guide-lugs,a hook-shaped end-portion upon the free end of each arm adapted to bebrought in limiting retaining engagement with the guide-lugs of eachelement, arms extending upwardly from said container, and arms extendingdownwardly from said second-mentioned closing device, and a means ofpivotal connection between each set of upwardly and downwardly extendingarms, and means within said shell for limiting the movements of saidcontainer, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. A match-box or other receptacle comprising a main shell providedwith 0 en ends,

a closing device movably arrange in each open end-portion, anintermediately disposed container movably arranged in said shell, one ofsaid closing devices being adapted to be moved against said containerfor moving the latter, bar-like guiding elements secured upon the innersurfaces of the endedges of said main shell, guide-lugs upon eachelement, upwardly extending arms connected with said first-mentionedclosing device, said arms being retained in their sliding relations tosaid bar-like elements by means of said guide-lugs, a hook-shapedend-portion upon the free end of each arm adapted to be brought inlimiting retaining engagement with the guide-lugs of each element, armsextending upwardly from said container, and arms extending downwardlyfrom said second-mentioned closing device, and a meansofpivot'alconnection between each set of upwardly and downwardly extendingarms, and inwardly projecting rotuberances upon the side-faces of said sell for limiting the movements of said container, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

13. In a match-box or other receptacle, a main shell comprisingside-faces and endedges, said end-edges being formed with lugreceivingslots, and said shell having an open end-portion, bar-like elementsarranged u on the inner surfaces of said end-edges, a 0 csing devicemovably arranged in the open end-portion of said shell, guide-forminglugs 139 connected With each bar-like element, arms I In testimony, thatclaim the invention extending upwardly from said closing device, setforth above I have hereunto set my hand 10 said arms being slidablyarranged behind this twenty-third day of August, 1907.

said uide formin lugs, and hook-shaped end-niembers on said arms forlimiting the BENNO VOM EIGEN movements of said arms and said closing de-Witnesses:

vices, substantially as and for the purposes GEO. M. TITUs,

set forth. GEORGE D. RICHARDS.

